An oil tanker attacked within the Crimson Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on August 21 seems to be burning and leaking, a Pentagon spokesman mentioned on Tuesday.
“Sounion now sits immobilized within the Crimson Sea, the place it’s presently on hearth and seems to be leaking oil, presenting each a navigational hazard and an environmental disaster,” Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder mentioned in a news briefing.
The vessel is owned and operated by Greek transport firm Delta Tankers, and sails below the identical flag. It was carrying about a million barrels of crude oil from Iraq to Greece. Its crew was evacuated a day after the assault.
Fires Burn on Houthi-Hit Oil Tanker but No Spill Yet, EU Says
The Pentagon assertion is the primary official point out of a probable leak, after the European Union naval forces within the area mentioned earlier this week that there have been no apparent indicators of a spill.
Service provider ships crossing the Crimson Sea have commonly been focused by the Houthis since final yr, when Iran-backed militants stepped up their retaliation to Israel’s actions in Gaza. 1000’s of ships from container vessels to grease tankers have opted to keep away from the realm, taking an extended route across the African continent and inflicting extra congestion round some trans-shipment ports comparable to Singapore.
In response to Ryder, two tugboats have been despatched by a third-party entity to the burning Sounion vessel to assist with salvage, however they have been warned away by the Houthis. US central command is actively monitoring the state of affairs and coordinating with maritime companions on how greatest to help the vessel, he added.
{Photograph}: On this handout screengrab launched by the Houthi group media heart on Aug. 23, 2024, fires might be seen onboard the Sounion, a Greek-flagged oil tanker. Yemen’s Houthi group claimed accountability for an assault focusing on the vessel with an explosive-laden drone, in solidarity with Palestinian individuals within the Gaza Strip. (Picture by Houthi Media Middle through Getty Photographs)
Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
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